The dreaded head gasket or just poorly maintained coolant?
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
The dreaded head gasket or just poorly maintained coolant?
A few days ago my engine temp slowly went above 90 (hasn’t done this in a long long time). Wasn’t far from home so pulled over instantly and drove it back the next day .
opening the coolant filler cap (passenger side near the front ) there was a lot of brown ish sludge ....
header tank same situation.
usually I would just be like yup head gasket. But since I couldn’t remember the last coolant change I thought **** it let’s flush the whole system what’s the worst I can do
i took the whole system off opened the header tank (full of rusty coloured crap and rust on the lid . Cleaned it out fully seal was in great shape though
many many litres of water flushed through both radiator and rest of system until it finally ran clear.
started engine got upto temp heaters on full. Can’t get it to go past 80 degrees. Even sitting with foot half on accel the oem temp gauge won’t go above half, the fans however don’t seem to come on (usually they come on around 90 while hard driving)
reflushed the system as again brown rust coloured crap coming out . Started engine again same situation. The water in the header tank was steaming (and brown/orange ish again) but gauges weren’t showing overheating (both oem and defi)
what should i do? Head gasket fail or just keep flushing until it runs clear? Is the brown/ orange colour simply head gasket or just rust and very poorly maintained coolant?
The oil level is just under max and there is nothing under the oil cap .
opening the coolant filler cap (passenger side near the front ) there was a lot of brown ish sludge ....
header tank same situation.
usually I would just be like yup head gasket. But since I couldn’t remember the last coolant change I thought **** it let’s flush the whole system what’s the worst I can do
i took the whole system off opened the header tank (full of rusty coloured crap and rust on the lid . Cleaned it out fully seal was in great shape though
many many litres of water flushed through both radiator and rest of system until it finally ran clear.
started engine got upto temp heaters on full. Can’t get it to go past 80 degrees. Even sitting with foot half on accel the oem temp gauge won’t go above half, the fans however don’t seem to come on (usually they come on around 90 while hard driving)
reflushed the system as again brown rust coloured crap coming out . Started engine again same situation. The water in the header tank was steaming (and brown/orange ish again) but gauges weren’t showing overheating (both oem and defi)
what should i do? Head gasket fail or just keep flushing until it runs clear? Is the brown/ orange colour simply head gasket or just rust and very poorly maintained coolant?
The oil level is just under max and there is nothing under the oil cap .
Last edited by Ash Webster; 14 June 2019 at 03:52 PM.
#3
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (5)
That looks like it has had no coolant, or the wrong coolant, which prevents rust. When you flush it, the thermostat prevents you from flushing the whole block, so you are only getting out a small proportion of the rusty old ****e. Are you refilling the correct way, slowly through the header top hose at the back, to prevent air locks?
Like you said, no harm in getting it all cleaned out, as long as you do it the correct way with the correct coolant. Then you can start looking at head gasket issues.
Like you said, no harm in getting it all cleaned out, as long as you do it the correct way with the correct coolant. Then you can start looking at head gasket issues.
#4
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Aye I’m using the tried and tested method of the pipe going to the turbo . Just done another full flush and the water getting slightly less orange but the first drain is always deeper colour.
is there any way to get around d that thermostat thing or just keep flushing it till it runs clear?
The first time I flushed it it took like 10 buckets to go clear but this time it took 4
is there any way to get around d that thermostat thing or just keep flushing it till it runs clear?
The first time I flushed it it took like 10 buckets to go clear but this time it took 4
#7
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
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#10
Scooby Regular
I suppose it is exactly what you can do on the driveway if you wanted to. Wish I had a driveway. Good luck got my fingers cross for you it is not HG. I am in the same boat.
#11
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
A few days ago my engine temp slowly went above 90 (hasn’t done this in a long long time). Wasn’t far from home so pulled over instantly and drove it back the next day .
opening the coolant filler cap (passenger side near the front ) there was a lot of brown ish sludge ....
header tank same situation.
usually I would just be like yup head gasket. But since I couldn’t remember the last coolant change I thought **** it let’s flush the whole system what’s the worst I can do
i took the whole system off opened the header tank (full of rusty coloured crap and rust on the lid . Cleaned it out fully seal was in great shape though
many many litres of water flushed through both radiator and rest of system until it finally ran clear.
started engine got upto temp heaters on full. Can’t get it to go past 80 degrees. Even sitting with foot half on accel the oem temp gauge won’t go above half, the fans however don’t seem to come on (usually they come on around 90 while hard driving)
reflushed the system as again brown rust coloured crap coming out . Started engine again same situation. The water in the header tank was steaming (and brown/orange ish again) but gauges weren’t showing overheating (both oem and defi)
what should i do? Head gasket fail or just keep flushing until it runs clear? Is the brown/ orange colour simply head gasket or just rust and very poorly maintained coolant?
The oil level is just under max and there is nothing under the oil cap .
opening the coolant filler cap (passenger side near the front ) there was a lot of brown ish sludge ....
header tank same situation.
usually I would just be like yup head gasket. But since I couldn’t remember the last coolant change I thought **** it let’s flush the whole system what’s the worst I can do
i took the whole system off opened the header tank (full of rusty coloured crap and rust on the lid . Cleaned it out fully seal was in great shape though
many many litres of water flushed through both radiator and rest of system until it finally ran clear.
started engine got upto temp heaters on full. Can’t get it to go past 80 degrees. Even sitting with foot half on accel the oem temp gauge won’t go above half, the fans however don’t seem to come on (usually they come on around 90 while hard driving)
reflushed the system as again brown rust coloured crap coming out . Started engine again same situation. The water in the header tank was steaming (and brown/orange ish again) but gauges weren’t showing overheating (both oem and defi)
what should i do? Head gasket fail or just keep flushing until it runs clear? Is the brown/ orange colour simply head gasket or just rust and very poorly maintained coolant?
The oil level is just under max and there is nothing under the oil cap .
#15
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (1)
A few days ago my engine temp slowly went above 90 (hasn’t done this in a long long time). Wasn’t far from home so pulled over instantly and drove it back the next day .
opening the coolant filler cap (passenger side near the front ) there was a lot of brown ish sludge ....
header tank same situation.
usually I would just be like yup head gasket. But since I couldn’t remember the last coolant change I thought **** it let’s flush the whole system what’s the worst I can do
i took the whole system off opened the header tank (full of rusty coloured crap and rust on the lid . Cleaned it out fully seal was in great shape though
many many litres of water flushed through both radiator and rest of system until it finally ran clear.
started engine got upto temp heaters on full. Can’t get it to go past 80 degrees. Even sitting with foot half on accel the oem temp gauge won’t go above half, the fans however don’t seem to come on (usually they come on around 90 while hard driving)
reflushed the system as again brown rust coloured crap coming out . Started engine again same situation. The water in the header tank was steaming (and brown/orange ish again) but gauges weren’t showing overheating (both oem and defi)
what should i do? Head gasket fail or just keep flushing until it runs clear? Is the brown/ orange colour simply head gasket or just rust and very poorly maintained coolant?
The oil level is just under max and there is nothing under the oil cap .
opening the coolant filler cap (passenger side near the front ) there was a lot of brown ish sludge ....
header tank same situation.
usually I would just be like yup head gasket. But since I couldn’t remember the last coolant change I thought **** it let’s flush the whole system what’s the worst I can do
i took the whole system off opened the header tank (full of rusty coloured crap and rust on the lid . Cleaned it out fully seal was in great shape though
many many litres of water flushed through both radiator and rest of system until it finally ran clear.
started engine got upto temp heaters on full. Can’t get it to go past 80 degrees. Even sitting with foot half on accel the oem temp gauge won’t go above half, the fans however don’t seem to come on (usually they come on around 90 while hard driving)
reflushed the system as again brown rust coloured crap coming out . Started engine again same situation. The water in the header tank was steaming (and brown/orange ish again) but gauges weren’t showing overheating (both oem and defi)
what should i do? Head gasket fail or just keep flushing until it runs clear? Is the brown/ orange colour simply head gasket or just rust and very poorly maintained coolant?
The oil level is just under max and there is nothing under the oil cap .
sometimes it always the simple things that fail .
Last edited by bighead; 16 June 2019 at 09:43 PM.
#16
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Reflushed again on sat and it went pretty clear after 2 runs. Bought some coolant and filled up. Ran upto temp, then topped up header tank and took for a quick run. No overflow no overheating so left for the night to cool down. Checked coolant level + colour in the morning was pink with a slight orange tint but nothing major.
I took it out for a good 25 min blast yesterday (not motorway) and the temps never went above 85. Couldnt tell if rad fans came on or not.
No overflow from the header tank.
Hopefully crisis averted but will keep on top of it over the next few weeks.
I took it out for a good 25 min blast yesterday (not motorway) and the temps never went above 85. Couldnt tell if rad fans came on or not.
No overflow from the header tank.
Hopefully crisis averted but will keep on top of it over the next few weeks.
#17
Reflushed again on sat and it went pretty clear after 2 runs. Bought some coolant and filled up. Ran upto temp, then topped up header tank and took for a quick run. No overflow no overheating so left for the night to cool down. Checked coolant level + colour in the morning was pink with a slight orange tint but nothing major.
I took it out for a good 25 min blast yesterday (not motorway) and the temps never went above 85. Couldnt tell if rad fans came on or not.
No overflow from the header tank.
Hopefully crisis averted but will keep on top of it over the next few weeks.
I took it out for a good 25 min blast yesterday (not motorway) and the temps never went above 85. Couldnt tell if rad fans came on or not.
No overflow from the header tank.
Hopefully crisis averted but will keep on top of it over the next few weeks.
#19
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
aye i know! but better out than in! i changed the rad about 4 years ago but i dont think i flushed the system at the time just a rush job and blocked off the hoses... shocking maintenance tbh and it has sat for a few years in the garage. I've had so much to attempt to sort out over the years i neglected it...
engine - replaced with v expensive millers nanotek 2 months ago
brakes - not sure! but im replacing all the hard lines soon as they are rusted so the brake fluid will be getting done too obviously
gearbox - not sure again >.<
engine - replaced with v expensive millers nanotek 2 months ago
brakes - not sure! but im replacing all the hard lines soon as they are rusted so the brake fluid will be getting done too obviously
gearbox - not sure again >.<
#20
Scooby Regular
I wouldn’t expect the coolant to look like that in four years are you sure you haven’t something causing it to go off like that 👍
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